Household Support Fund can help you
There’s more than £500,000 available to help Wokingham Borough residents through the Household Support Fund this winter. You can apply if you’re struggling to pay for:
- Food
- Bills
- Energy costs
- Other everyday essentials
The Household Support Fund has been allocated by the Department for Work and Pensions to councils in England to pass on money to residents who need it.
The current round covers October 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Do do not re-apply if you’ve already got a payment recently.
If you successfully applied for a Household Support Grant between 1 April and 30 September 2024, you will automatically get another payment this winter. It will be paid six months after your last payment. You do not need to re-apply.
Support options available
What you’re entitled to depends on your situation:
- Free school meal families - £15 per week, per child during the school holidays for each child receiving means-tested free school meals
- Pensioners, carers and disabled people – one off grant of £120
- All other households – one off grant of £60
Food support can ease New Year struggles
There are a number of organisations and schemes across the borough to help you get the food you need if you’re struggling early in 2025, or any other time.
- Free fresh food - SHARE Wokingham has 15 sites across and around the borough, open most days. They distribute surplus produce from local supermarkets and suppliers for a small donation to charity. Open to all – even if just temporarily needed
- Community pantries - provide help through a membership scheme which makes your money go further. You pay a small fee and get items up to a set value. For example you could pay a £5 weekly fee to access £30 of items (may require a referral)
- Emergency support – available through foodbanks across the borough
You can view a map with your nearest support on our website.
Feeling lonely? Join local firefighters for a brew
Firefighters from Wokingham Fire Station will be holding drop-in sessions for people who are feeling lonely, or would like someone to go somewhere warm and chat this month.
If you would like a quick chat about fire safety or anything else, the crew will be there to welcome you with tea, coffee and biscuits.
The drop-in sessions take place at Wokingham Baptist Church in Milton Road (RG40 1DE) on:
- Wednesday 22 January, 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday 29 January, 2pm to 4pm
Loneliness can make us feel down and affect our well-being. If you are feeling lonely or isolated, you can get support on our website. Our directory lists helplines, online communities, local services, leisure activities and social groups, our library services and more.
Ofgem has a list of cheaper social tariffs for broadband which you may be eligible for if you claim other support like Universal Credit and Pension Credit
Few days left to attend free energy advice sessions
There’s still a few days left to attend free energy advice sessions with Citizens Advice Wokingham as part of Big Energy Saving Fortnight.
Locations where events are taking place are:
- Woodley Precinct (9.30am to 3pm) – Wednesday 22 January (tomorrow)
- Wokingham Library (10am to 2pm) – Thursday 23 January
- Arborfield Community Centre (10m to 1pm) – Thursday 23 January
- Arborfield British Legion, SHARE (2pm to 4pm) – Thursday 23 January
You can get help with energy efficiency ideas, tariffs and meters, Winter Fuel and Cold Weather Payments and more.
You can also book an appointment with the Energy Advice Team by email or by calling 0808 278 7958.
Spread your Council Tax payments across 12 months
If it helps you manage your money, you can spread your Council Tax payments over 12 months to include payments in February and March.
Usually payments are taken for 10 months from April, with February and March off, but you can change this if it helps you manage.
You‘ll likely have made your payments for this year but may want to adjust for the future. If you want to pay by 12 monthly installments email ctax@wokingham.gov.uk
Reminder - support and help guides for your situation
And here are some of the most useful options, based on advice and services other residents have used in recent months:
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